Case



F. GETTELMAN Filed Oct. 25, 1937 0000000 00000 O b 15001 VWOV YV V V WOW@ I 2'Sheets-Sheet l Patented May 27, 1941 UNiTE STATS PATE? anni Fria

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in cases. The case herein disclosed is particularly 'adapted for the handling and shipment of bottled goods, suoli as beer or milk, but is Widely adaptable to a variety of other uses.

Wooden cases have become increasingly expensive. Cardboard cases have come into quite extensive use and, while lighter and cheaper than Wooden cases, they are much more susceptible to injury. Consequently, While the first cost is.

low, the cost of using them over a period of time is quite high. In the event that a bottle is broken its liquid contents soften up the bottom of the case or carton to such an extent that it not infrequently happens that the weight of the remaining bottles Will break out the softened bottom of the carton and permit all of the bottles to drop when the case is again lifted.

It is the' primary object of the present invention to provide a practicable sheet metal case, lighter in Weight than a wooden case, stronger than either Wood or cardboard, comparable in first cost to cardboard, and practically ind`e= structibl'e while at the same time being more advantageous from the standpoint of nesting' than either wooden or cardboard cases heretofore available.

Other objects of the invention will appear more specifically from the following disclosure.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view partially in end elevation and partially in section showing two nested cases of a preferred construction embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of one of the cases.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section through one of the cases on an enlarged scale as compared with Figure 1.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary detail views in longitudinal section showing modied constructions embodying the invention.

Figure I is a fragmentary detail View partially in plan and partially in section showing a modied corner construction embodying the invention.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail in longitudinal section showing a preferred cover construction.

Figure S is a view on an enlarged scale take-n on a seotionsimilar to Figure 8 showing a modied cover construction.

Figure 10 is a View on a reduced scale showing the blank used in the `construction of the cover illustrated in Figure 9.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The side 'and end walls i5, lo of my improved case are made of sheet metal. It is broadlyvimmaterial whether they are shaped fro'rn a single piece or from several pieces of sheet metal. It is also immaterial whether the corners are nmde by bending a single piece of sheet metal or by uniting by soldering, riveting or welding separates pieces of sheet metal. Preferably, however, the corners are rounded as indicated at ll in Fig. 2. The rounding contributes materially to the 'strength of the case and tothe ease With which it may be manipulated.

I prefer to provide about the upper margin of the case a bead as shown at I3. This bead should desirably be turned inwardly rather than outwardlyv to avoid any projection from the eX- terior surfaces of the side and end walls. The bead may be triangular as shown at i8 in Fig. 4, but is preferably circular in its general cross section. I prefer to incorporate in the bead a wire I9 which may be continuous around theentire upper periphery of the case as indicated in Fig. 2, or may be restricted merely to the corners as indicated at IS in Fig. '7. In either event the material of the Walls of the case is turned downwardly upon' itself after being beaded at the upper margin and is secured by Welding, soldering, or dipping in a tinning bath or the like.

Where handles are desired, openings may be out as at 20 in the end Walls iii of the case, theY material of the wall being formed inwardly as at2l (Fig. 3), to avoid sharp margins. In this case the extreme margin 22 of the material constituting the bead i8 is carried upwardly around the wire i9 to constitute the manually engageable portion of the handle as shown in Fig. 3.

One of the most important features of the invention consists in forming integrally inwardly at the bottom of the case the metal constituting each Wall thereof to provide a narrow inwardly extending bottom flange 25 which is continuous about the case as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. This flange is preferably beaded at 25 and may contain a reinforcing wire 21 which is either continuous throughout the bead or is limited to the corner portions thereof as above suggested with reference to the bead at the top of the case. The ange 25 is curved at the corners of the case as shown at 28 in F'ig. 2, thus having a uniform inward projection throughout the lower margin of the case. The length of the flange is such that its bead 26 will be spaced within the outline of the top bead I8 of the case, thus enabling the bottom bead 26 of one case to be nested within the top bead I8 of another case in stacking the cases as shown in Fig. l.

The bottom bead may be triangular as shown at 26 in Fig. 4, if desired.

Another important feature of the preferred construction consists in the use of an entirely free reticulated bottom at 391 which may conveniently be made of expanded metal loosely laid into the bottoin of the case, of a size and shape to rest freely on the inturned flange 25 for support. strong to support the contents of the case without substantia1 damage. At the same time it is quite highly resilient so that it readily withstands shock and relieves the bottled goods from severe blows if the case is dropped. i

Another important advantage in the use of expanded metal consists in the fact that in the event of breakage the liquid contents of a bottle will immediately drain from the case with a minimum of damage thereto. An advantage in having the bottom loose lies in the fact that it is instantly replaceable and can readily be removed from the case even for so minor a matter as to discharge broken glass or to permit the case to be more readily and thoroughly cleaned than would be possible if it had a solid bottom.

While the use of expanded metal loosely fitted to the case to constitute the sole bottom therefor is greatly preferred, I have contemplated the use of sheet metal bottoms in various forms either alone or to supplement the expanded metalto facilitate handling on certain types of conveyors. two possible constructions employing sheet metal bottoms appear in Figs.l 5 and G. In the Fig. 5 construction the sheet metal bottom 3| has its bead 32 rolled into the partially open bead,33 of the case proper, thus permanently connecting the bottom to the walls'of the case.

In the construction shown in Fig. 6 the bottom 34 is loose but is offset or embossed downwardly about the bead 35, being provided with a marginal flange at 36 which rests upon the flange 25 of the case to receive support therefrom.

The cover 40 disclosed in Fig. 8 has a downwardly embossed central portion somewhat similar to the structure of the bottom 34 shown in Fig, 6. The marginal flange 4| of cover 40 rests over the bea-d I8 at the top of the case, and the downwardly embossed central portion of the cover 40 fits closely within the bead to position the cover. Registering apertures may be provided in the walls of the cover and case through which The expanded metal Vis sufficientlyk wires 42 may be extended and sealed to protect the contents from tampering.

Where it is desirable to keep the contents from the light I may form the cover from a blank such as that shown at 43 ln Fig. 10, the end tabs 44 being folded downwardly across the handle openings 20 to exclude the light which would otherwise be admitted through such openings.

If lt is desired to employ bottle spacers, these may conveniently comprise the usual grid of cardboard strips as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that even when made of fairly light weight stock of sheet metal, a case embodying this invention y will be strong an-d rigid. In actual practice the Weight of this case is comparable to that of a cardboard carton holding a like number of bottles. The weight is materially less than that of the conventional wooden case. The case may readily be sterilized to an extent impossible with either wood or cardboard, its thorough cleansing being facilitated both by the fact that the bottom is reticulated and by the fact that the bottom is removable. The inwardly formed flange 25 continuous about the bottom, and joined integrally with the side and end walls and the cylindrically curved corners, is a factor contributing greatly to the strength of the case as well as locating the inwardly offset lower bead 26 and providing support for the freely removable bottom 30. The first cost of the case is materially less than that of a wooden case and only Very slightly greater than that of a cardboard case. Because of its great durability its .a cost over a period is much lower than that of a case made of either wood or cardboard.

I claim:

A sheet metal bottle carrying case having continuous side and end walls, cylindrically rounded at the corners, with their outer surfaces in vertical planes adapted for direct contact with those of adjacent containers and lower portions inwardly turned to provide bottom flanges downwardly beaded at their inner margins, said walls having inturned beads at their upper margins in sufliciently close proximity to the upper walls to allow the bottom beads of superposed containers to nest within the top beading of the lower container,in combination with wire reenforcing for each of the beads, a removable cupshaped bottom having outwardly turned top flanges adapted to rest upon the bottom flanges of the side walls, with the cupped portion suspended between the marginal beads of said side and end wall flanges, and a removable expanded metal false bottom marginally supported from the bottom flanges of the side walls with the FREDRICK GETTELNIAN. 

